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Money saving tips for 2026

Journalist: Emma Lunn, Freelance

ended 29. December 2025

I am writing a feature for Saga that comprises of 52 money saving tips for the new year. I am looking for some original/offbeat tips and a few new voices to quote. Tips can be mortgage/pension/savings/banking/household bills related, or to do with stuff you buy (clothes, food, going out, holidays). The more niche/original the better.

3 responses from the Newspage community

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Philly Ponniah
Chartered Wealth Manager and Financial Coach at Philly Financial
1. Get clear on what you actually want, then name the money for it. Vague goals lead to wasted spending. When you know exactly what you are working towards, like “two weeks in Italy with the grandkids” or “three day weeks by 60”, saving stops feeling abstract. Naming the pot creates emotional attachment, which makes you far less likely to raid it for everyday spending. 2. Stop tracking spending daily, zoom out instead. Daily tracking often triggers guilt and all or nothing thinking. A weekly or monthly review works better psychologically. You spot patterns without beating yourself up, which makes change more sustainable. Calm awareness beats constant control. 3. Decide your spending rules when you are calm. Impulse spending usually happens when we are tired, bored, or stressed. Set simple rules in advance, like a 48 hour pause on non essential buys or no last minute “treat” upgrades. Fewer in the moment decisions means less regret and more money left over.
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Colette Mason
AI Ethics Consultant at Clever Clogs AI
There are savvy switching services like Nous.co that actually manage your household bills for you. Once you link your accounts, the AI scans your contracts, spots exactly when they end, and either switches you automatically or renegotiates with your current provider. They often access exclusive tariffs that comparison sites miss because they're not working on commission.

If you'd rather handle it yourself use ChatGPT in voice mode on your phone to practice negotiating before calling. Tell it: 'You are a tough customer retention agent for [who you need to speak to]. I want a 30% discount because my contract is ending. Start the conversation.' It'll push back with all the tricks, letting you rehearse rebuttals without the stress of a real call. These negotiations are lost not because of a lack of power, but because they get flustered, accept the first counteroffer, or cave when the agent says 'that's the best I can do.' It's like having a sparring partner who knows all their moves.
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Chloe Phillips
Certified Financial Planner & Financial Coach at The Money Makeover
1. Check how tax relief is given on your workplace pension.
Most schemes automatically add basic rate tax relief to your pension contributions. However, if you're a higher-rate tax payer and the scheme uses the 'relief at source' method, the higher rate tax relief is not added automatically. You usually need to claim this directly from HMRC, either through your tax return or directly online, and you can backdate claims up to 4 tax years.

2, Check your state pension forecast to see if you're missing any qualifying NI years. Many people are surprised to find gaps. If you help look after the grandchildren under 12 while a parent is working abbd claiming Child Benefit but doesn't need the NI credits themselves, that credit can often be passed onto you instead.